Surprising lack of EVs in Japan

[EskimoArapaho]

Just back from a stay in Japan; Tokyo and a few road trips from there. As I'm thinking of getting a Nissan Leaf this year, I was expecting to see a lot of them, but saw just 2 in all that time. And to put that in context, I saw 2 Ferrari F40s. The only other EV I saw was a Tesla S (no I3s, Renaults, etc).

In comparison, I did see thousands of hybrids, and it seems that all of the Japanese makers have a hybrid version of just about every car except the little 660cc kei cars.

I wonder if there's some reason that the JDM does not believe in pure EVs? Price of fuel may be important: petrol seems to be taxed lower (about £1/litre there vs £1.30 or so here); not sure of the cost of electricity for refuelling an EV there (?).

I did also see Honda's FCEV, currently a rather shaply concept car, following the Clarity FCX car that I think is only being piloted in a few trials. But the fuel cell tech really seems to be moving along. Range was claimed at about 300 miles.

Perhaps the Japanese will go straight to fuel cell EV?

[sooperscoop]

I don't think the fact that most people live in apartments helps. Plus, the Japanese don't seem to have the same push to be 'green' that we have.

South Korea is similar. Plus they have a power capacity problem too, government offices have to switch off the AC in the height of summer because of it.

[EskimoArapaho]

I suspect you're right about the charging difficulty for people in the city, and perhaps the uncertain cost of electricity from teh grid is another factor. Especially as Japan is now turning its back on nuclear energy.